RCB vs KKR Playing-11: The league will resume with the RCB-KKR match, eyes on Kohli who has retired from Tests..

The second phase of IPL 2025 is going to start on Saturday. This will be the 58th match of the league and will be played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. In this match, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli, who recently retired from Test cricket.

Unexpected 10-day halt in the league

After an unexpected halt of 10 days, both RCB and KKR will try their best to reach the playoffs. RCB are second in the table with 16 points from 11 matches, and a win against KKR will almost ensure a place in the playoffs for the team. At the same time, KKR are sixth in the table with 11 points from 12 matches, and a single defeat will end the hopes of the defending champions to make it to the knockouts.

Both teams are in great form.

Before the halt in the league, both teams were in great form. While RCB have won all their last four matches, KKR will enter this match with two consecutive wins. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see how these teams maintain their rhythm. If we compare the two teams on paper, there is no doubt that RCB will have an upper hand over KKR.

Captain Patidar has a finger injury.

Captain Rajat Patidar, who was injured against Chennai Super Kings, batted without any trouble in the practice session. Patidar had a finger injury, but he batted brilliantly in the net session. Most of the foreign players of the host team have also returned home after the India-Pakistan military confrontation. Players like Phil Salt, Lungi Ngidi, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, and Romario Shepherd are available for the team.

Mayank Agarwal would like to prove himself.

The absence of Devdutt Padikkal and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood due to injury, however, could be a big problem. RCB will expect Mayank Agarwal, who replaced Padikkal, to capitalize on this opportunity. Hazelwood has a shoulder injury, and the franchise has not yet given information about his availability.

All eyes will be on Kohli.

However, all eyes will be on Kohli in the match. The spectators in the stadium will also chant his name the most. This legendary batsman announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this week. If we look at the discussions going on social media, then fans are planning to wear white jerseys to honor this batsman, who gives the most importance to the traditional format of the game.

Virat Kohli would like to play impressive innings.

Kohli, who is in great form, would also like to play some impressive innings with the bat after the sudden end of his Test career. KKR has been most disappointed by its batsmen in the current season. Apart from captain Ajinkya Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi, no batsman has shown consistency.

KKR's batting is the biggest problem
All the matches of the league stage are do-or-die for the KKR team, so they will expect effective innings from Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. The team will miss England's experienced all-rounder Moeen Ali. Moeen is out of the league due to a viral fever. KKR's bowling line-up of Varun Chakraborty, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana has maintained its hold despite proving expensive on many occasions.

Probable playing 11 of both teams

RCB: Jacob Bethell/Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Swastik Chikara/Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (captain/subject to fitness), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal. Suyash Sharma can be an impact player.

KKR: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy. Harshit Rana can be an impact player.

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